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rix_scaedu407.09.18/3179.08.25
Year 1, Semester 1, Day -2
Elidor spent the morning setting up her study area, and then going through her class details so she could write up her schedule for the week. The computer did all that for her, of course, but she liked writing the details down herself, seeing how it all slotted together. She began to put together a consolidated list of due dates and exams, not that she had all the details she needed for a truly comprehensive list, but it was a beginning that gave her an inkling of how busy she was going to be and when.
After lunch she decided that it was time for some fresh air and exercise, so she went downstairs, and headed left out the door to Sirknight Street, then turned left again to reach Orchard Boundary Road. On the other side of the road lay what the maps called Persimmon Hill Wooded Nature and Recreation Area.
From across the road, it was clear that this side of the mountain encompassed in the Nature and Recreation Area had once been part of an orchard. If you knew what you were looking at, and Elidor did, the footings of a colonial-construction wall were now the curb on the other side of the street. The trees in view were almost entirely persimmons, a thing that did not happen by chance. These trees had to be at least third or fourth generation seedlings, given how long persimmons lived, and the sheer number of them meant that this area had been a monoculture to begin with. There was some undergrowth in the shape of berry bushes and patches of flowers gone to seed but the persimmons were still green leafed and fruited.
Further into the park, Elidor saw picnic rugs set out and groups finishing off their alfresco meals. There was a park sign with what looked like a standard set of park rules on it opposite her, so Elidor crossed the road to read it. The restrictions were indeed, mainly, standard but along with no ball games and pets to be kept leashed was 'Report all drones or surveillance bots to park management.' This last admonition was followed by a phone number, a text number, and an email address.
She spent an hour in the park before walking home again. The path she found, carefully levelled and finished in a fine pink-brown gravel, had led from the footpath near where she had crossed the road to a small seating are further up the up the slope that looked back across the city - in winter when the trees had lost their leaves, it probably gave an excellent view of the temple that fronted much of the block along Orchard Boundary Road. Other paths leading up or across the slope in various directions led out from this point and Elidor appreciated the helpful signs on each one that noted average walking time, distance, and difficulty level. Further exploration would have to wait for another day as she hadn't come out equipped for a hike, and that was when she had turned around to go home.
Mistress Beddell's cat greeted her on her return home with a demand for ear scratches, and after that Elidor spent the rest of her afternoon and evening in meal preparation and setting up her personal streaming and news services, completely unlinked to anyone else's usage.
By the time she started watching Episode One of "Skylark in Mourning" (When Everything Changed), it seemed like a well-deserved treat to finish off the day.
3179.08.25
Helbelebore Estate, Ekald Demesne, Colony 1293-x: Security Log
...Overall, itinerant recreational activity within the orchard boundary was within expected parameters for clement weather in this season on a day of non-required labour. Active scanning protocols were not activated.
The noted member of House Skarmord attended the lower orchard precinct between 13:47:12 and 14:43:57. No hostile actions detected. No boundary violations were attempted. Passive scanning continues....
407.09.18 17:23
Lady_Albidor to Family Scarmod Group Chat:
Has anyone heard from or seen Ellie?
407.09.18 17:35
Skelly_S to Family Scarmod Group Chat:
No. If she's moved, give her time to get her services reconnected.
407.09.18 17:37
Cousin_Breck to Family Scarmod Group Chat:
I'm at Imbue the Hills - great music by the way. Haven't seen her but there's only 52,000 people here.
407.09.18 17:50
Cousin_Alasdair to Family Scarmod Group Chat:
Mother, if you're really worried, have you asked TheScarmod if he knows what she's doing? If she's left a note for anyone, it'll be him.
407.09.18 17:52
Lady_Albidor to Family Scarmod Group Chat:
Why would she tell him? He's not likely to share information with me.
407.09.18 17:59
Cousin_Alasdair to Family Scarmod Group Chat:
She's his heir; I believe they are closer than you think. I never suggested that he would tell you where she is, I suggested that he might tell you if he knows what she is doing.
407.09,18 19:03
Lady_Albidor to TheScarmod: Person to Person direct message
Uncle Cadrick, do you know where Ellie is? She's not answering her messages, her flat is up for rent, and we have an appointment with the Mengwaid matchmaker coming up.
407.09.18 19:03
TheScarmod to Lady_Albidor: Person to Person direct message
Cancel the appointment. Scarmods and Mengwaids don't marry each other, ever. Elidor is safe and well. She is not obliged to communicate with you.
407.09.18 19:11
Lady_Albidor to TheScarmod: Person to Person direct message
Uncle Cadrick, I didn't expect you to be so old fashioned! We need closer ties with the Mengwaids in preparation for The Return. A marriage between Ellie and one of Jaspar Mengwaid's grandsons would be an excellent move for both families.
407.09.18 19:16
TheScarmod to Lady_Albidor: Person to Person direct message
- The moiety rules are there for a reason - we do not violate them.
- The Scarmods and the Mengwaids can be allies without marital ties - it hasn't stopped us before. Some of us can even be friends.
- If "The Return" is imminent, this family will not be found to be in breach of known multi-planetary statutes.
Try to be a little less busy in matters that are not your responsibility, thank you, Albidor.
407.09.18 19:32
Lady_Albidor to TheScarmod: Person to Person direct message
As senior female member of the family, the heir's marriage is my responsibility!
407.09.18 19:52
TheScarmod to Lady_Albidor: Person to Person direct message
Albidor, Elidor is both my heir and the senior female member of the family. You being a generation older than her does not change her status in that regard.
Also, I note that you are Elidor's heir. Trying to manoeuvre her into a marriage that cannot produce viable children looks somewhat like a move to ensure your inheritance, or that of your eldest son. Not a good look for you, Albidor.